Vineland Mayor Ruben Bermudez dances with members of the 2013 Queens of the Puerto Rican Festival during the flag-raising ceremony at Vineland City Hall on Sunday. / Staff photo/Charles J. Olson

Eugene Pagan (right), a member of the Tricycle Club of Vineland, helps Josh Roman, 13, ride an oversized bike on Wood Street during a Puerto Rican Festival flag-raising ceremony at Vineland City Hall on Sunday. / Staff photo/Charles J. Olson

VINELAND — The towering American flag that flutters by City Hall on a daily basis was joined Sunday by a similarly-colored pennant — the flag of Puerto Rico.

As part of the city’s 46th annual Puerto Rican Festival of New Jersey, the flag was raised Sunday afternoon to officially kick off the weeklong festival designed to celebrate the heritage and culture of Puerto Rico.

More than 100 of the area’s Puerto Rican residents came out to fill the bleachers in front of City Hall and witness the ceremony, with many outfitted in various Puerto Rican-themed attire, and many others who rode their high-riding tricycles up and down Wood Street.

This year, those of Puerto Rican descent were able witness one of their own, Vineland Mayor Ruben Bermudez, officially proclaim the coming days Puerto Rican Festival Week.

“I’m very proud to represent you,” Bermudez told the crowd. “Thank you very much for being here today and helping share our heritage and culture. We have a tremendous array of food, music and family customs that define Puerto Rico.”

The event featured many songs and speeches from various officials and dignitaries, and culminated with the singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” as well as Puerto Rico’s national anthem, “La Borinqueña“ to accompany the flag-raising.

“This is an honor,” Lou Olivero, president of Vineland’s chapter of the Latin American Motorcycle Association, said. “We like to come out and support our heritage and support our roots.”

Olivero said that while he is American-born, his travels to Puerto Rico have taught him the significance of his heritage and the difference between the peoples of Puerto Rico and here in the United States.

“There’s a lot more unity,” Olivero said of Puerto Ricans. “Everybody is very warm and friendly there, versus here where people don’t want to get to know their neighbors.”

Leo Negron, a member of the group that organizes the events, said Puerto Ricans owe it to their ancestors to keep the tradition alive and going.

“Every year in this beautiful, progressive city of Vineland, we are honored to raise our Puerto Rican flag,” Negron told the crowd. “We owe it to our pioneers who started it in the 1950s.”

Vineland resident Solimar Hernandez said she has come to the flag-raising ceremony every year.

“It’s very cultural,” she said. “It’s in us, and we’re in the U.S.”

Bill Gonzalez, who is a Cumberland County candidate for freeholder, said the day was a very important occasion for Puerto Ricans.

“It’s a day of reflection,” said Gonzalez. “It’s a day for us to embrace our culture as Puerto Rican Americans.”

Flag-raising ceremonies are also scheduled today, at 12:30 p.m. at Millville City Hall and at 5 p.m. at the Cumberland County Courthouse in Bridgeton.